Japan ends Afghan refuelling mission after 8 years
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Japan's government gave orders to its navy on Friday to terminate a refuelling mission that has supported US-led military operations in Afghanistan for eight years, after the legal mandate for the mission expired.
The government, which came into power in September promising an independent diplomatic course from its key security ally, decided not to extend the mission that started after the Sept. 11 2001 attacks, even though Washington had asked Tokyo to continue. (Reuters)
